uite
taken out of my own guidance.'

'I went down to Wrapworth and found him very unwell, quite out of order,
and neglecting himself,' said the captain; 'so I have brought him up for
advice, as I could not make him hear reason.'

'I was afraid you were looking very ill,' said Honora, hardly daring to
glance at his changed face.

'Can't help being ill,' returned Captain Charteris, 'running about the
village in all weathers in a coat like that, and sitting down to play
with the children in his wet things. I saw what it would come to, last
time.'

Mr. Sandbrook could not repress a cough, which told plainly what it was
come to.

Miss Wells asked whom he intended to consult, and there was some talk on
physicians, but the subject was turned off by Mr. Sandbrook bending down
to point out to little Owen a beautiful carving of a brooding dove on her
nest, which formed the central bracket of the fine old mantelpiece.

'There, my man, that pretty bird has been sitting there ever since I can
remember. How like it all looks to old times! I could imagine myself
running in from Westminster on a saint's day.'

'It is little altered in some things,' said Honor. The last great change
was too fresh!

'Yes,' said Mr. Sandbrook, raising his eyes towards her with the look
that used to go so deep of old, 'we have both gone through what makes the
unchangeableness of these impassive things the more striking.'

'I can't see,' said the little girl, pulling his hand.

'Let me lift you up, my dear,' said Honora; but the child turned her back
on her, and said, 'Father.'

He rose, and was bending, at the little imperious voice, though evidently
too weak for the exertion, but the sailor made one step forward, and
pouncing on Miss Lucilla, held her up in his arms close to the carving.
The two little feet made signs of kicking, and she said in anything but a
grateful voice, 'Put me down, Uncle Kit.'

Uncle Kit complied, and she retreated under her papa's wing, pouting, but
without another word of being lifted, though she had been far too much
occupied with struggling to look at the dove. Meantime her brother had
followed up her request by saying 'me,' and he fairly put out his arms to
be lifted by Miss Charlecote, and made most friendly acquaintance with
all the curiosities of the carving. The rest of the visit was chiefly
occupied by the children, to whom their father was eager to show all that
he had admired when little older than